– Graduating with a first class at law school had a big impact on my academic and career growth.
– After each class, I would journey to the library with my roommates and we would study until 11pm.
– Law school is very technical, and it is very easy to not graduate with a first class.
Read the details below:
Chinwekele Alli, currently a master’s student at Peking University School of Transnational Law in China, tells ALEXANDER OKERE how she surmounted the challenges she faced in the Nigerian Law School and graduated with a first class, a feat she could not achieve as an undergraduate
You graduated with a first class at the Nigerian Law School, Kano Campus, despite making a second-class upper division at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa, Anambra State. What did you do differently in law school?
When I started law school, I had the mindset that people did not excel in law school because of the large curriculum and also the anxiety that comes with the Bar final examination. Therefore, I tried to avoid as many distractions as I could. I had to put a lot of things on hold and did not engage in as many extra-curricular activities like I did in the university. I also tried to avoid distractions from home by staying in the school environment during my externship period. Attending lectures was mandatory and I tried to listen attentively in class and take notes. I also made my personal notes which were a mixture of different recommended textbooks and my class notes.
After each class, I would journey to the library with my roommates and we would study until 11pm. We kept up with this routine until the end of the teaching period, just before the externship period. I was fortunate to have up-to-date personal notes and I resolved to finish studying them at least two times before the end of the externship. I felt this would help me get familiar with the sections, drafts and principles of the large law school curriculum. I also felt it would help me have less anxiety during the Bar finals. Luckily, this worked as I anticipated. By the time we returned for the Bar exams, I was able to answer past questions correctly as well as in record time. This made me more confident in myself and I was no longer as nervous as I was at the start of the law school.
Were you at any point worried that you might not make a first class after all the hard work?
Yes, I was. I was worried before the exams and also after the exams. Law school is very technical, and it is very easy to not graduate with a first class. Students are assessed with their least grade and a student can end up graduating with a 2:2 with a grade of four As and one C, or a pass with a grade of four A and one D. To get a first class, a student has to get ‘As’ in all the courses. In most cases, it is not about how hard you studied but ultimately by the grace of God.
What were your toughest moments at law school?
One of my tough moments at law school was bathing. I arrived at the Kano campus during the cold season and it took a long time to get used to the cold and dusty weather. Every day, I had to get up by 5am and stand in a queue, in the cold, to get hot water. Also, I was not very comfortable using a public bathroom.
Can you describe how you felt when you received the news about your final result at law school?
I was extremely happy when I saw my law school result. I felt fulfilled that my efforts were not in vain.
What impact did having a first class have on you; did it change your mindset or inspire you to do more?
Graduating with a first class at law school had a big impact on my academic and career growth. Although I had always aspired for the best and had been winning since I was in primary school, I got a new orientation after I obtained a first class from law school. It taught me that everything is possible when you dream it and work towards it.
Was graduating with a first class at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, your initial plan?
Oh, yes! I think everyone comes to the university with this mindset.
Were you disappointed when you saw your final result, considering the efforts you had put in?
I wasn’t entirely disappointed. In my second year in the university, I already knew that I would not be able to graduate with a first class even if I got an A in all my courses in the remaining three years. After realising this, I changed my goals and aspired to maintain my grade point average so that it wouldn’t fall below 4.0. Fortunately, I was able to graduate with a cumulative GPA of 4.09 out of 5.0. In addition, I was also motivated to take up other extra-curricular activities to spice up my résumé.
You held some leadership positions as an undergraduate. How did you balance your academic work with extra-curricular activities?
This was not an easy task at all! I tried my best to apportion my time and give every aspect of my life adequate attention. Also, at the beginning of a semester, I measured the difficulty of a course by the lecturer or professor in charge and the number of materials which I had to read to get a good grade. I divided my courses into difficult and ‘not too difficult’ and gave different level of attention to the courses. In addition, I tried my best to attend all the lectures and partook in extra-curricular activities when I didn’t have lectures. Furthermore, we were mostly graded by a final exam at the end of each semester, thus, towards the exam period, I put almost everything extra-curricular on hold and focused on the exams. I am blessed with the ability to quickly comprehend things and I also have a very good retentive memory. This was very helpful as I did not have to study for a long time before I was ready for the exams.
Was Law your idea or was it based on consultation and advice from your parents or friends?
Upon graduating from secondary school, I was interested in Law and Mass Communication, but more in Law. Choosing a career is an important part of a person’s life. So, when I was about to complete my Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination registration, I sought advice from family and teachers. My dad and a few of my teachers advised me to choose Law, particularly because of the prestige and wealth of opportunity it offers. After beginning my diploma in Mass Communication I was more convinced about studying Law and not Mass Communication. I am, however, glad that I was able to get a degree in both disciplines.
You said you completed a two-year diploma programme in Mass Communication at the same university. What was the motive behind that?
It all started when I didn’t gain admission to study Law after my first attempt at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University. I opted to pursue a diploma in Mass Communication and apply for a Law degree the following year.
How did your journey to Peking University School of Transnational Law in China begin?
It began after I conducted a research on the QS global ranking of law schools and I discovered that Peking University ranked as No. 21. Upon searching through Peking University website, I found the LLM programme offered by the university and I was captivated by the dual legal system it provides and the platform to learn how the law operates in the two largest economies of the world – the United States and China. Thus, I started working towards getting admitted into Peking University.
Were you not bothered about cultural and language barriers and how these could affect your academic performance?
I actually was not bothered. I had already started learning Chinese by the time I made my decision to apply to Peking University. Also, I knew that the programme would be taught in English language, so knowledge of Chinese would only be needed to survive in China. In addition, I did not expect a big cultural difference and I thought I would blend in as quickly as possible.
Can you describe your experience in your first year in China; was there any culture shock?
Yes. Being my first time of leaving Nigeria, studying in China exposed me to different cultures and people. Like I mentioned earlier, I wasn’t expecting a big cultural difference. However, everything was very different when I arrived. One thing that stood out was the food. Everything tasted and looked weird. I also did not know how to eat with chopsticks. I was only able to get comfortable with some Chinese dishes two months after I arrived in China. Apart from the food, there were other different areas, such as the style of dressing, cold winters, cohabitation, and sexual orientation, among others.
What did you find striking about the curriculum for the law programme at PKUSTL and the educational system in China generally, compared to what you received in Nigeria?
One thing I like about the system here (in China) is the flexibility in the manner of teaching and variety of exam methods. Compared to the traditional exam system I experienced at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, where students were only tested in a two to three hour closed book exam, students get tested at PKUSTL through assignments, writing of papers, take-home exams, open-book exams, and also the closed-book exams adopted in Nigeria. Another thing which I like about the curriculum is the little period of time allocated for vacation. In an academic year, students go on vacation for a cumulative period of six weeks. This is different from the system in Nigeria where students can go on vacation for a cumulative period of three months in an academic year. An aspect which I don’t entirely fancy is the fact that students are graded on a curve, meaning that you are scored based on the performance of the class. Therefore, even if a student performs to the level deserving of an A, they might get a lower grade if there are other students who perform better.
Have you been applying the same study method you used in Nigeria in your current programme in China?
I had to change my pattern of studying. While in the university and in the law school (in Nigeria), I used to make personal notes from textbooks and jottings from class, I was not able to do that here (in China). This is because of the large amount of materials we have to read for a particular course. Also, there is practically no difference between the date of the exams and the end of lectures. Each quarter comprises 10 weeks; we take our exams in the 11th week and begin the next quarter the week after. Thus, there was actually no time to make personal notes. Despite this, I still continued to apply the method of weighing the difficulty of a course at the start of the semester, just like I did in Nigeria.
What is your target at PKUSTL?
My target is to get the required knowledge and experience I need for a successful legal career.
How long did it take you to learn Chinese language and how easy was it to learn?
I started learning Chinese in August, 2016, and passed the HSK 5 Chinese Proficiency Level exam in December, 2017. Learning Chinese is not difficult, but it requires a lot of time and dedication. That way, many people consider it to be difficult. To learn Chinese, I enrolled in the Chinese Language programme offered by the Confucius Institute of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. I started learning the basics during the summer vacation. This was helpful because I did not have to think of my legal studies as there were no lectures or exams. At the end of the summer vacation, I had already got a good foundation in Chinese language and was able to combine learning Chinese together with studying Law.
You are currently studying for an LLM in International Law. What triggered your interest in that area?
My interest in International Law began when I offered commercial arbitration at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. I was able to see how international treaties can affect the domestic laws of a country and I was fascinated by that idea. Also, working as an associate at Templars (law firm) exposed me to cross-border transactions, further deepening my interest in International Law.
What do you plan to do after your master’s programme?
I hope to get a job in an international law firm or an international organisation such as the United Nations, World Trade Organisation, World Intellectual Property Organisation, among others. I plan to obtain another legal licence, either the New York or UK Bar Licence. I feel this would help to prepare me for a successful career as an international lawyer.
What can a prospective Law student or one currently studying Law do to excel academically?
I would advise every student, law or otherwise, to discover what works best for him or her and stick to it. This can be the reading pattern or method, whether or not to take on too many extra-curricular activities, etc. I believe everything would fall in place when a person discovers this. Nevertheless, no matter what the case may be, hard work and discipline are traits common to so many successful persons and have consistently yielded amazing results.
What do you do when you are not studying?
It all depends on what I am studying. Sometimes, I listen to music while studying and turn off the music when I need to concentrate more. I like studying in different places and might get bored if I study for too long or repeatedly in a particular spot. I also like studying through group discussions. This helps me explain what I have read in my own words.
Credit: PUNCH.
